How is stalking categorized in Canadian law?

Stalking is categorized as criminal harassment under Canadian law. This classification reflects the legal understanding that stalking involves a pattern of behavior where an individual repeatedly harasses or intimidates another person, causing them to fear for their safety or the safety of someone known to them. The Criminal Code of Canada outlines provisions regarding criminal harassment, which includes behaviors like following someone, repeatedly communicating with them, or threatening them, all of which represent actions that can be considered stalking.

The term "criminal harassment" emphasizes the seriousness of this behavior and acknowledges the potential for psychological harm and fear that it inflicts on the victim. This legal categorization allows law enforcement and the judicial system to take appropriate actions to protect victims and hold offenders accountable. Other options, while relevant in different contexts, do not specifically categorize stalking as clearly as criminal harassment does. For instance, unlawful surveillance focuses more on the act of observing or recording someone without their consent, rather than the broader pattern of harassment associated with stalking.